"The mid-July day is the day of the middle-mid-year festival, also known as the day when the gates of hell open in legend."
Legend has it that during this time, all ghosts would undergo examination, those who pass can leave the underworld and those with masters return home, while those without masters wander the earth, wandering from place to place looking for food. Therefore, this day is called Ghost Festival.
As for the rumors, they are just rumors, but the facts are even more terrifying.
Because powerful cultivators who died in non-normal circumstances would use the weakest time of the "Life and Death Boundary" during the middle-mid-year festival to leave the underworld as much as possible, taking over and being reborn.
Like those who proclaim themselves as existence in the upper realm: eat people!
Over these years, there have indeed been those who have successfully revived through the forbidden way of taking over others, but there has yet to be a true success.
In the mortal realm, there are rules and laws; in the underworld, there are their own customs and regulations.
Those who defy it will receive information from the underworld, and they will be besieged and killed in the mortal realm.
Lu Jian'an has indeed accepted such tasks in the Zhuo Zhao World, and due to curiosity, he has also reviewed relevant classics in the library of the Wandao Zong, so he is relatively familiar with it.
Standing in front of the Gate of Ghosts, Lu Jian'an raised his head slightly, for the Dao he possessed included life and death, allowing him to see the ancient ghosts that lingered around the Gate of Ghosts.
In his crisp white robe, Lu Jianan's mind flickered with a thought: Should he use his current mastery of the "Great Emptiness Meditation Technique" to deduce the general outcome of this journey?
But the idea was quickly suppressed by Lu Jianan: "As the cultivation increases, how can one become more hesitant and indecisive?"
Laughing at himself, Lu Jian'an didn't bother to channel the "Great Emptiness Meditation Technique."
Because human nature tends to avoid danger and seek prosperity, and it's hard to have a 100% success rate for any endeavor. If one knows in advance of a bad outcome, then a seed of 'timidity' is planted in the heart.
This seed, once it germinates, is hard to eliminate and will become a "what if" in one's journey towards cultivation.
And "what if" means a lack of confidence in oneself.
On the path of inquiry, there may be failure, but there is no ultimate success. What is most valuable is the courage to continue forward and walk with a clear conscience.
"On small matters, avoiding good fortune and evil luck is fine, seeking cultivation and asking the way is like a field of thorns, where one cannot avoid it."
Lu Jian'an's eyelids flickered slightly, and he took out a short knife etched with blood-colored patterns.
During the midsummer festival, the Gate of Ghosts is wide open, and hundreds of ghosts roam at night.
But not during this time, when life and death are separated, one should serve in the mortal realm.
Ignoring the gazes of the Yin Gu attendants, Lu Jian'an took a step forward with his blood-patterned short sword in hand towards the Gate of Ghosts. The 'blood eye' at the hilt seemed to be turning pupils, and the more he approached the Gate of Ghosts, the more joyful the sword's singing became.
Entering from life to death's realm, the 'Yin Proof' clears the way.
Lu Jian'an gave a glance at the abundant blood within the short sword's blood pearl, twisting his wrist, and the sword penetrated the thick city gate while in front of him a ripple appeared, allowing him to smoothly enter the Way of Souls Corridor after passing through.
At the top of the city gate tower of the Ghost City, Pei Wanyu's graceful face was filled with a rather proud smile.
With her cultivation level, she naturally sensed that her precious apprentice had a momentary desire to channel the "Great Emptiness Meditation Technique." So in that instant, she thought that if Jin'an really wanted to calculate the future of entering the Gate of Ghosts, she would immediately take him back to the sect.
Even the cultivators in the Tianyuan Pavilion, who are extremely proficient in fortune-telling and divination, would not easily give themselves a hexagram. Jin'an, as a cultivator who knows little about divination because of the nature of his cultivation technique, if he were to cast a hexagram carelessly, he might easily tarnish his cultivation.
Fortunately, my precious apprentice has always been a source of pride for me.
With more reassurance, Pei Wanyu slightly raised her head and looked towards the distant, formless boundary. She lightly lifted her right hand, with her long, slender fingers dyed with red nail polish, as if grasping something. The already oppressive and dark sky seemed to be covered in a layer of pitch-black paint, like a heavy rain was about to pour down.
The spirit force, grand and atmospheric, was like a black phoenix, forcibly separating an independent domain uninvaded by Yin and Hell gas on the abyssal boundary stretching for tens of thousands of miles, seemingly capable of directly entering the underworld.
Holding her right hand, Pei Wanyu tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and her slightly narrowed eyes were like a gentle crescent moon. The beauty mark on the lower right corner of her lips accentuated her allure at this moment.
"If something unexpected happens, I don't want to wait for reincarnation~"
Pei Wanyu spoke to herself, "Even if the reincarnated baby in the next life looks just like Jin'an and has memories from before reincarnation, I won't consider him my precious apprentice Lu Jin'an."
So, why not cause a commotion in the underworld and bring back her own dear apprentice herself.
"Alas～ I can't help but interfere～" Also, somewhat in a playful mood, Pei Wanyu laughed: "Qingyue, my dear, I'm not going to take Jin'an away from you～"
With her mood becoming more pleasant, Pei Wanyu crossed her arms, lightly tapping her fingers against her arms, and occasionally humming a little tune.
"I wonder if Qingyue has found any information about Zhu Nanzhi. From Jin'an's description of her, it seems like she might be from the Qingmiao Palace, went into the mortal world in the South Zhuo Domain, and then became emotionally detached as Tai Shang."
"Hmm? Is she the apprentice of that woman?"
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Lu Jianan stepped through the city gate of the Ghost City, and not far ahead was the entrance to the Way of Souls Corridor.
According to legend, the Way of Souls Corridor is a vast maze. Once living beings who want to enter the underworld and dead beings who want to return to the mortal world enter, they will become lost and cannot escape forever.
Lu Jian'an tightened his grip on the 'Yin Proof,' and with the short sword full of fresh blood in his hand, he would not lose himself in the Way of Souls Corridor.
Walking without a sound, once he stepped into the entrance of the Way of Souls Corridor, it was as if he had half a foot in the underworld.
The surroundings are filled with Yin and Hell energy, completely isolating it from the external spiritual energy, but Lu Jian'an's internal spiritual energy will not be rejected.
Because he had the sword, 'Yin Proof' was a valid pass for living beings to legally enter the underworld.
It is unknown how many 'Yin Proof' swords there are in the world, but throughout history, those who have entered the underworld with it can be counted on one's fingers.
And they all pursue the Path of the Great Release.
There have been cultivators who returned from the underworld after achieving great power, but most were swallowed by death and failed.
With the 'Yin Proof' in his hand, Lu Jianan was able to find the correct path in the Way of Souls Corridor, but he did not move quickly.
Because the Way of Souls Corridor is a maze combining space and spirit, it is a rare place for cultivators who specialize in the Dao of Space.
However, Lu Jian'an, despite not moving quickly, didn't stop for a moment.
Compared to the power of space, the power that confronts death is even more rare.
Lu Jian'an, who had passed through the Way of Souls Corridor, looked ahead to the real entrance of the underworld. On the left stood a thin and tall figure with a smile on its face, and on the right stood a short and stout figure with an aggressive appearance.
Looking at the two figures, their hats bearing the inscriptions of 'One Life Sees Wealth' and 'All the World Lives in Peace,' Lu Jian'an's eyes lit up.
The King of Hell and the Minister of Hell from myths and legends!
Lu Jian'an, with the sword point down, slightly bowed and performed a sword salute.
"Long heard of your great names."
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